Nurse who sets example of care

But her own drive and commitment to improve services has been a key factor in enabling the 450 people with the condition in the Scarborough, Bridlington and Whitby area to benefit in many ways.

Her outstanding example led to her nomination last year as a NHS hero in Yorkshire.

Now the search is on for the winner of the Yorkshire Post NHS Health and Social Care Hero of the Year Award for 2010 – and the final deadline is fast approaching to submit entries for the title which will showcase the best in NHS talent across the region.

Lynnette said her nomination had significantly raised the profile of the illness, which affects 120,000 people across the UK.

"People still stop me in the street and ask how I got on and ask me questions, so it's been excellent about highlighting Parkinson's disease," she said.

She took up her role after developing an interest in Parkinson's while working with elderly patients at the day hospital in Scarborough.

At the time there was little help for patients other than consultations with staff at the town's hospital and many sufferers and their carers were left to deal with symptoms at home.

"Quite often there was nothing available for patients and they used to come to clinic only every six months or if a problem arose," she said.

Lynnette now holds a Parkinson's clinic every week in Scarborough and every month in Bridlington and Whitby. Sessions are also held for people newly-diagnosed with the condition to let them know of symptoms and how the illness might develop.

She works with a colleague to help people with speech and language problems caused by the illness and physiotherapy sessions are now available to help patients with their movement and, for instance, give advice on how to get going again if they become unable to move.

Lynnette also offers telephone advice to people to help those who have changed their medication, while a local branch of the Parkinson's Disease Society has been set up, as well as a group for carers.

Her role also includes giving educational talks to GPs and nursing homes to inform them of problems that affect patients with Parkinson's and keep them up to date with current management of the condition.

She has also introduced a device which helps hospital ward staff know when to give patients their medication, which is crucial for patients with Parkinson's as receiving late medication can affect their ability to manage symptoms.

She is also developing palliative care services for those in the late-stage of the condition with the local hospice.

"We are getting better at diagnosing the condition and spotting it a lot earlier," she said.

"One of the main issues is getting medication right. A lot of people are on complex regimes and it involves a lot of trial and error.

"The best thing is a simple medication change which can improve somebody's quality of life but the worst is when we don't have an answer – as nurses we always think we should and sometimes we don't."

The Yorkshire Post is asking readers to nominate people who they believe are outstanding examples of excellence in health and social care services who deserve recognition for their work.

It could be a doctor or nurse, or perhaps a volunteer, charity or

social worker who has gone above and beyond the call of duty to provide outstanding service or it could be a colleague who is an inspiration for others.

The award will be presented at the annual regional health and social care awards ceremony later this year.

How to nominate your NHS hero

We want to hear your stories about your NHS hero.

You can send in your nomination in writing or online.

Please include the name, position and organisation your hero works for and no more than 255 words why you think they should win. You also need to include your name, address, a telephone number and your link to the person nominated.

Nominations close on Tuesday. A panel of judges will then draw up a shortlist of five finalists to be featured in the Yorkshire Post between September 27 and October 1.

The public will then be able to cast their vote for the winning hero from October 2-6.

Anyone who would like to make a nomination can go to www.yorkshirepostnhshero.co.uk or send it in writing to the Yorkshire Post Newsdesk, Yorkshire Post Newspapers, Wellington Street, Leeds LS1 IRF.